Michelle Heaton speaks out after double mastectomy: ‘It was hell, but worth it’

Former Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton insisted there was ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ after having a double mastectomy.

She had the operation three weeks ago after being diagnosed with a mutated gene called BRCA2, which meant she had an 80 per cent chance of developing breast cancer and a 30 per cent chance of ovarian cancer.

‘For the first two or three days, I didn’t know where I was. It was hell – it was a week of hell, I’m not going to lie,’ the 33-year-old told ITV1’s Lorraine show.

On the mend: Michelle Heaton arrives at ITV Studios in London (Picture: Fame Flynet)

‘If then someone had told me how good I’d feel now I wouldn’t have believed them and it has only been three weeks.

‘So there is light at the end of the tunnel and any woman going through this or who is worried about the surgery – you will be fine, you will be absolutely fine. It really is all worth it.’ She said the reconstructive surgery on her breasts was ‘great’.

She added: ‘When I first saw them, I just burst into tears with relief and realised they are normal.’

Heaton said she thought she would have her ovaries removed in ‘a few years’ time’. But the surgery meant she had not been able to play with her baby daughter, Faith.

‘It has been awful, not being able to pick up Faith. It’s the simple things that you can’t get your head around, not being able to hold her or cuddle her,’ she added. ‘But again, three weeks later and I’m able to pick her up again and cuddle her.’